The Dublin Literary Award has the longest long list of all the major prizes: this year libraries around the world nominated 147 books for the prize. As my Harper/Harper Perennial editor wrote when she passed the news along, “What’s so wonderful about this is that nominations come from librarians, not publishers, and so it reflects the passion of the literary community.” In my case, two libraries nominated Reunion: the Seattle Public Library and New Hampshire State Library. My deep thanks to the librarians there.
The judges will now begin the formidable process of winnowing the list over the next few months. In April a more typical short list of ten books will be announced. But until then, I am basking in the glow of being among the honored 147.